Cougars maul Razorbacks in State Cup opener

THE FRENCHVILLE Sports Club Capricorn Cougars are on the hunt for more goals.

An enthusiastic Cougars outfit produced a commanding 2-1 win over the North Queensland Razorbacks in their opening trial game in Mackay on Saturday night.

The Cougars dominated the physical encounter with their northern rivals from start to finish ahead of this month's Football Queensland State Cup kick-off.

Defender Matt Carrigg scored the match-winner in the dying minutes with a long-range "pearler'' to break the deadlock. "It was a pearler of a goal,'' Cougars coach Justin Kilshaw said.

The Cougars led 1-0 at halftime after new striker Nick Barker pounced on a pin-point cross from wide mid-fielder Kenny Robertson to open the scoring in the 25th minute.

A defensive lapse allowed North Queensland back into the match mid-way through the second half with the Razorbacks taking a quick free-kick before Cougars goalkeeper Ben Blacker could set his wall.

Kilshaw praised the enthusiasm in his squad, but was critical of his team's failure to convert several goal-scoring opportunities.

"From a coach's perspective, the enthusiasm in the squad was fantastic,'' Kilshaw said.

"We're creating the chances and when we come up against Pine Rivers we've got to be able to put them away.''

The Cougars continue their State Cup build-up against Brisbane club Taringa Rovers at Rockhampton's Ryan Park this Saturday night before they face a tough first round clash with Brisbane Premier League champions Pine Rivers on October 22.

Two of the Cougars' best in Mackay ? centre mid-field Clayton Rowland and Blacker ? will miss this weekend's final trial match, with Gladstone duo Lee Veenhoven and Roger Bailey coming into the squad.